Internal Components Highlights 

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Transformers​

Most of the transformers used in our products are hand-wound in our own facility to ensure maximum quality. This is the only way that current capability, efficiency, and radiated noise can all be kept within our demanding parameters. All transformers are securely mounted in their respective chassis. Transformers are massive, and if not securely mounted can cause failure among internal components due to vibration.

- High-power chrome shielded toroidal transformers

- Optimized to reduce losses and handle high currents

- High-temperature resistance, high permeability and insulation performance

- Transformer core with full copper wire windings

- Low ESR, highly efficient

 

Final Power Transistors 

The output transistors used by the Reference amplifiers are the well-known complementary Sanken MN1526 and MP1526. They guarantee 260 of voltage handling and 15A of maximum current. The transistors have constant hFE characteristics over a wide current range, which provide high-quality audio.

 

Signal Path and Power Capacitors 

For the signal path we used the ELNA Series RA3 and RFS, then for the power supplies we cooperated with SAMXON to produce our own capacitors. It is not a matter what the brand is, what Zapco engineering are looking are for performances of Leakage Current, Tangent and loss angle, Vibration Resistance, High Temperature Loading Life, and Tolerances. SAMXON SHP series was used for 3300 and 4700 microfarad and SKM series for 2200 microfarad.​

 

Power Resistors​

The Power Resistors (model BWL 5W R1 B by Token) have Low In ductance, Excellent load life stability, Low temperature coefficient, Cooler operation for high power to size ratio. Proprietary processing technique to produce extremely low resistance values.

 

Capacitors

Capacitors come in many types and are basically divided into solid-dielectric capacitors (there are several different types), which typically have low capacitances and high operating voltages, and liquid-dielectric capacitors (commonly called electrolytic capacitors), which have high capacitances. Both are important for an audio amplifier because the former ensure minimal distortion in the signal path, while the latter act as filters on the power supply states and are therefore responsible for the noise generated.

 

Input Capacitors
Among the capacitors in the signal path, those positioned near the inputs are more responsible for providing a distortion-free signal and therefore require higher quality materials and construction processes. Zapco use Revenbi MKPA-B capacitors that are Metallized Polypropylene Film Capacitor 250V with 3% Tolerance HIFI special made for Audio Professional use.​​

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Balanced/Unbalanced Systems

The electrical environment in an automobile is one that is inherently noisy and filled with conditions that threaten to degrade signal fidelity at every turn. Capacitive loading due to the long cable lengths, the potential for ground loops, alternator charging currents or currents generated by the amplifiers themselves are all factors that induce noise and distortion into the signal cables. By no means is this an ideal situation. ZAPCO has found the solution many years ago with SymbiLink components, converting a standard unbalanced audio signal into the fully balanced domain. At that time the SymbiLink connection was realized by two separate inputs. Today the same solution is realized with balanced input by RCA and unbalanced input through a button that is collocated inside the amplifier.